The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Elementary and Secondary Education Department has issued a clarification stating that the existing weekly holiday schedule of Friday and Saturday will continue in all government schools across the province, with the exception of institutions in designated winter zones where examinations are under way or scheduled to be held.
Examination Exemption for Winter-Zone Schools
According to a notification issued by the Directorate of Elementary and Secondary Education, schools conducting examinations in winter-zone areas will remain open on Fridays and Saturdays solely for examination purposes. These institutions are required to follow the already announced examination timetable. The clarification follows an earlier departmental order issued on June 15 regarding school timings and the implementation of a period-wise teaching schedule.
Ensuring Uninterrupted Examinations
Officials stated that the exemption was intended to ensure the uninterrupted conduct of examinations and the timely completion of assessment activities. However, regular classroom teaching, co-curricular programmes, and other academic activities will remain suspended on those days until the examination process concludes. Heads of institutions have been directed to inform students, teachers, and support staff of the examination arrangements well in advance and to ensure strict compliance with the instructions.
Staff Attendance Requirements
Under the notification, the attendance of all teaching and administrative staff will be mandatory on Fridays and Saturdays if examinations for all classes are scheduled on those days. Where examinations are being conducted only for selected grades, only staff directly involved in the examination process will be required to report for duty. The department emphasized that the arrangement is temporary and will remain in force only for the duration of the ongoing examinations.
Future Directives and Implementation
Any future changes to school operations, closures, or reopening schedules will be communicated through separate official directives. The Director of Elementary and Secondary Education has instructed District Education Officers across the province to ensure the immediate dissemination and implementation of the notification in all primary, middle, high, and higher secondary schools. Officials expressed confidence that the clarification would remove uncertainty among school administrations, teachers, students, and parents while ensuring the smooth conduct of examinations across winter-zone institutions.
